Azharuddin and 4 Others Are Punished for Cricket Match Fixing : Former India Captain Banned - The New York Times The New York Times Sports |Azharuddin and 4 Others Are Punished for Cricket Match Fixing : Former India Captain Banned Search Azharuddin and 4 Others Are Punished for Cricket Match Fixing : Former India Captain Banned By PRADEEP MAGAZINE and INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE DEC. 6, 2000 Continue reading the main story NEW DELHI— Mohammed Azharuddin, the former India captain and one of world cricket's finest batsmen, was banned from the sport for life Tuesday for his involvement in match fixing. The Board of Control for Cricket in India, or BCCI, whose role in the matter had come under criticism from India's federal investigation agency, known as the CBI, also announced bans for three other players and a former India team physiotherapist. Ajay Sharma, who played for the country in one test match against the West Indies in 1989, also was banned for life. Ajay Jadeja, a middle-order batsman, Dr.

Ali Irani, a physiotherapist, and, ironically, Manoj Prabhakar, who started the scandal when he accused others of match fixing, all received five-year bans for their involvement with bookmakers. "This is a sad day in the annals of Indian cricket," A.C. Muthiah, chief of the BCCI, said after a meeting of the board's disciplinary committee in Madras. Continue reading the main story "There is clear evidence of match fixing against Azharuddin," Muthiah said. "There also is evidence that Sharma acted as a conduit for match fixing. That's why we clubbed the two of them together and gave life bans. Others had nexus with bookmakers and introduced players to the bookmakers, which is a serious breach of cricketing codes." Advertisement Continue reading the main story The BCCI has been under pressure since the release of a CBI report on match fixing in November. The report accused these players of having links with bookies and of "under-performing" in return for huge sums of money. In a country where cricket means what soccer does in Europe, there has been a public outcry demanding punishment for the guilty. The CBI devoted a full chapter of its report to the BCCI.

The report said that while there was no evidence that any officials were involved in match fixing, such a widespread racket was not possible without their knowledge. Before the CBI report become public, Azharuddin said he was being targeted because, as a Muslim, he belonged to the minority community. He did not comment Tuesday. Sharma, the other player banned for life, told a news agency that "the decision of the board is arbitrary" and that he was "going to seek legal remedy." Jadeja denied any wrongdoing and said he would appeal against the punishment. "I have to restore my credibility," he said. "I will appeal to the board and even go to the court to get justice." The CBI report had linked Sharma with Azharuddin, saying the former was responsible for introducing the bookmaker Mukesh Gupta to Azharuddin. Hansie Cronje, the South African captain banned in October, has said Azharuddin introduced him to Gupta in 1997 in India. Given the nature of politics in India — the governing Bharatiya Janata Party is a rightist Hindu party — the indictment of Azharuddin might have the potential of becoming a socially explosive issue.

The situation may be defused by the fact that there are others being punished who do not belong to the minority community. The most bizarre and mysterious role in the matter is that of Prabhakar. The scandal began in India in 1997 when Prabhakar wrote, in a signed article in a Delhi-based magazine, that he was offered 2.5 million rupees ($53,000) by a teammate to underperform in a match against Pakistan in 1994. Advertisement Continue reading the main story When Prabhakar later said that the player was Kapil Dev, the great Indian all-rounder and team captain, he sent the nation into a tailspin. In May, shortly after Cronje was charged in India and accused of fixing two matches against India in 1999, the government ordered the CBI probe.

The CBI exonerated Kapil but alleged that Prabhakar had played a leading role in introducing international cricketers to Gupta, including Brian Lara, the former West Indies captain; Alec Stewart, the former England captain; Dean Jones, the Australian batsman; and Arjuna Ranatunga and Arvinda de Silva, the former Sri Lankan captains. "I launched the crusade to cleanse the game and I have succeeded in doing it," Prabhakar said. "But I feel sad that the BCCI did not even have the courtesy to note the contribution I made to clear the dirt. It instead equated me with other players. "There is a lot of difference between me and them. I was fighting against the system of which they were a part." Prabhakar's accusation in 1997 had appeared against a backdrop of widespread allegations of match fixing by Pakistani players and accusations by two Australian players — Mark Waugh and Shane Warne — that a former Pakistani captain, Salim Malik, had offered them bribe to throw a test match.

The Indian public was willing to believe that match fixing happened outside its own borders, but those who pointed fingers at Indian players were called "traitors" and even "anti-national." Pakistan was the first country to react to the allegations. After a judicial probe, Malik was banned for life and Wasim Akram, Pakistan's best-known player, was fined. The inquiry even alleged that Waugh and Shane had taken money from Indian bookmakers. The pair were fined after admitting they had given an Indian bookmaker information on weather and the state of the wicket. When Cronje admitted his links with the same bookmaker it became hard for Indian fans to believe their own players were not tainted.

Advertisement Pradeep Magazine is the sports editor of India-Today.com [Not to be reproduced without the permission of the author.] Former South Africa cricketer faces Ram Slam match-fixing charges | Sport | The Guardian Former South Africa cricketer faces Ram Slam match-fixing charges • Investigation into corruption during T20 competition nears completion • South Africa braced for biggest scandal since Hansie Cronje affair South African cricket is at risk of its biggest scandal for 16 years Photograph: BPI/Rex Shutterstock Wednesday 13 January 2016 10.43 EST Last modified on Monday 4 April 2016 07.23 EDT Close This article is 1 year old South African cricket is bracing itself for the biggest match-fixing scandal to hit the country since its former Test captain, Hansie Cronje , was banned for life in 2000, with an investigation into corruption during the recent Ram Slam Twenty20 competition understood to be close to completion.

Sri Lankan cricketers face inquiry after accusations of 'scandalous behaviour' Read more Cricket South Africa announced on 15 December last year that it had charged an “intermediary” under its anti-corruption code for “contriving to fix, or otherwise improperly influence aspects” of the tournament, as well as refusing to cooperate with its enquiries. Now a column by the respected journalist and broadcaster, Neil Manthorp, in Business Day has revealed that a legal case is being prepared against “a significant number of domestic players” with the ringleader – the “intermediary” referred to last month – known to be a former South African international cricketer. While a number of players are set to be charged with “failure to report” approaches, the report said the ringleader is facing possible jail time for his part in the scam. Match-fixing was made illegal in South Africa in 2004 under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act Law, introduced four years after Cronje admitted to his role in manipulating international games.

Speaking in December, Haroon Lorgat, CSA’s chief executive, said: “Our attitude to corruption will always be one of zero tolerance and we are confident that we have the necessary structures in place to effectively deal with any corrupt activity. “We will relentlessly pursue under our code and the law of the land any persons we believe to be involved in corrupting the game and, with assistance from the police, we will also seek criminal prosecution.” A timeline of the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo A timeline of the Hansie Cronje match-fixing episode from 2000 and the impact on the players named Denial, followed by a 3am confession, then tears © AFP The first blow April 7, 2000 Delhi police charge Hansie Cronje with fixing South Africa's ODIs against India in March for money. They also release transcripts of an alleged conversation between Cronje and an Indian businessman, suggested to be a bookie, Sanjay Chawla.

The conversation is about who is playing and who is not, who is in on the "deal", the amount alleged to be paid to Cronje and his team-mates Herschelle Gibbs, Pieter Strydom and Nicky Boje. Cronje denies any involvement in the matter, and the South African board, former players and media rally behind him. Cronje's denial April 9, 2000 South Africa's captain continues to stand his ground , saying at a press conference: "I want to make it 100% clear that I deny ever receiving any sum of money during the one-day international series in India. I want to also make it absolutely clear I have never spoken to any member of the team about throwing a game." Cronje confesses April 11, 2000 The South African board sacks Cronje after he calls the board's managing director, Ali Bacher, at 3am and admits he "had been dishonest" over his activities in India. Cronje acknowledges receiving $10,000 to 15,000 for "providing information and forecast but not match-fixing" during the one-day series in India.

Dodgy Test investigated April 12, 2000 The South African board says the controversial fifth Test between South Africa and England in Centurion in January, during which both sides forfeited an innings at Cronje's suggestion, will be investigated as part of the inquiry into match-fixing allegations. Indian government steps in April 28, 2000 The Indian government orders the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the match-fixing allegations and to find out whether any Indian cricketer or official was involved. The King Commission enquiry June 7, 2000 Former South African cricketer Pat Symcox testifies before the King Commission, which is inquiring into the Cronje scandal, that he had been approached by Cronje about "throwing" a match against Pakistan during the 1994-95 season. He also confirms that during a team meeting in Mumbai in 1996, Cronje had conveyed an offer of $250,000 dollars to lose a one-dayer.

Gibbs' confession pulled the rug out from under Cronje's defence © AFP A damning confession June 8, 2000 Herschelle Gibbs effectively seals Cronje's fate, confessing he had accepted an offer from his former captain to make less than 20 runs in a one-day match in India earlier in the year in exchange for $15,000. More South Africans testify June 9, 2000 Nicky Boje, one of those named in the match-fixing case by the Delhi police, tells the King Commission he was shocked to hear his name linked to the scandal and said Cronje had never approached him with an offer to play badly. Seam bowler Henry Williams testifies that he had been offered $15,000 by Cronje to bowl expensively in a one-day international in India earlier in the year. Pieter Strydom reveals that he had been offered money by Cronje before the first Test against India in Mumbai in February.

Cronje offered immunity June 10, 2000 After three days of damaging revelations during the King Commission hearings, Cronje is offered immunity from criminal prosecution in South Africa if he makes a full disclosure about his role in match-fixing. Kallis' testimony June 13, 2000 Jacques Kallis corroborates evidence by Mark Boucher and Lance Klusener that Cronje had made an offer to the three players in a hotel room before the second Test against India in Bangalore in March 2000. Cronje accuses Azhar June 15, 2000 Cronje confesses to taking about $100,000 in bribes from gamblers since 1996, but he claims that he had never thrown or fixed a match. He also announces his retirement from cricket. Cronje tells the King Commission that former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin had introduced him to a bookie who offered him money to throw a 1996 Test match during South Africa's tour of India. Azharuddin calls the allegation "rubbish".

Cronje breaks down June 23, 2000 Cronje is led away in tears after his three-day cross examination by the King Commission ends in Cape Town. He gives evidence clearly and admits that he accepted money from bookmakers and says his "great passion of the game and for my team-mates'' was matched by "an unfortunate love of money". Paul Condon heads ICC investigation June 26, 2000 Cronje begs forgiveness for his involvement in illicit gambling deals after the first round of hearings of the King Commission closes. A former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Paul Condon, is appointed director of the ICC's anti-corruption investigation. Nicky Boje, reluctant to tour India for several years for fear of being questioned, finally agreed to cooperate with the Delhi police, seven years after the scandal broke © ICL Two South African players banned August 28, 2000 The UCBSA bans Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams from international cricket until December 31, 2000, for their role in the match-fixing scandal. Pieter Strydom, is acquitted of conspiring to bet on the outcome of the Centurion Test againt England in January.

Life ban for Cronje October 11, 2000 The UCBSA imposes a life ban on Cronje. The ban, which was widely expected, extends to all the UCBSA's related cricket activities as well as that of its affiliates. Cronje dies June 1, 2002 Cronje dies aged 32 when the light cargo plane in which he was travelling in crashed into mountains near the coastal town of George in bad weather. Four years later, an inquest into his death reveals that the crash was caused due to pilot negligence. Boje skips India tour November 3, 2004 Nicky Boje pulls out of a two-Test tour of India after being told he might be detained by Indian police over their match-fixing investigations. Gibbs questioned October 12, 2006 The Delhi police question Herschelle Gibbs for over two hours about the South Africa tour of India in 2000. Gibbs allegedly names Derek Crookes, the former South Africa spinner, as being involved in match-fixing. Crookes denies the allegation, saying he was cleared by the King Commission.

Crookes declares innocence October 13, 2006 Derek Crookes expresses shock at being linked to the fixing allegations after being cleared by the King Commission. Offers to cooperate with the Delhi police. Boje questioned by Delhi police December 11, 2007 Nicky Boje, playing in India (for the Indian Cricket League) for the first time since 2000, is questioned by Delhi police. He denies any role in match-fixing. Cronje barred from Hall of Fame March 17, 2008 Cronje will not be posthumously inducted into South Africa's Sports Hall of Fame . Cronje named in chargesheet July 22, 2013 More than 13 years after the scandal broke, Cronje is the only cricketer named in the chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police relating to the match-fixing case of 2000. The chargesheet includes several bookies. © ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Banned South African cricket captain is killed in plane crash - Telegraph Banned South African cricket captain is killed in plane crash By Christopher Munnion in Johannesburg 12:01AM BST 02 Jun 2002 Hansie Cronje, the disgraced former South African cricket captain, who was banned from the game for life after a match-fixing scandal , was killed yesterday in an aeroplane crash near his home in the country's Western Cape province. Cronje, 32, was one of three people who died when the light cargo aircraft on which he had hitched a lift crashed in bad weather into the Outeniqua mountains near the town of George. South Africa's sports world, which had been torn apart by Cronje's admission that he had accepted bribes for fixing international cricket matches , reacted with shock and dismay at the news. Ngconde Balfour, the sports minister, said: "It's shocking that such a man regarded for so long as a national hero has died so tragically." President Thabo Mbeki added: "The entire country will remember Hansie Cronje's moments of sheer brilliance on the cricket pitch.

South Africa will mourn him." Cronje, a born-again Christian who used to wear a bracelet inscribed: "What Would Jesus Do?" was handed his life-long ban two years ago by the United Cricket Board of South Africa after he had confessed to taking bribes from bookmakers on at least four occasions. The decision was later endorsed by the game's governing body, the International Cricket Council. Related Articles Several team-mates confessed to investigators that Cronje had offered them a share of bookmakers' bribes to lose a one-day international against India. Cronje vowed last year to stay in South Africa and make up for his "mistake", but he later failed in a legal bid to overturn the ban. When it became clear that he would be unable to take any further part, even as a commentator, in the game to which he had devoted his life, he embarked on a career as a financial manager. Allan Lamb, the former England batsman and a friend of the Cronje family, said: "It's a great loss. He was a wonderful guy." Bob Woolmer, the former South African cricket manager, said: "In the last two years Hansie's life changed.

People should put the scandal to the back of their minds and think of the good things that he did." However, Ian Botham and David Lloyd, both former England players, said that he would be remembered as the man who brought shame on the game and on himself. "Hansie Cronje will go down as the man who disgraced cricket," said Mr Lloyd. SOUTH AFRICA: CRICKET: MATCH FIXING: CRONJE - YouTube SOUTH AFRICA: CRICKET: MATCH FIXING: CRONJE Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jul 21, 2015 English/Nat Former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje broke down in tears in court on Friday after being grilled for three days about his involvement in illicit gambling schemes. Hansie Cronje was axed as captain and instigated a massive sporting scandal after admitting to taking a single bribe from a bookmaker.

He has since admitted to accepting five separate payments totaling about 100-thousand U-S dollars from gamblers and said a 20-thousand U-S dollar deposit into his bank account could also have been in exchange for match information. The revelations have rocked South Africa and the cricketing community. Cronje has also confessed he had "an unfortunate love of money" and that greed had got the better of him. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I think if my wife finds another dollar she'll cut the other testicle as well." SUPER CAPTION: Hansie Cronje, Former South African Cricket Captain After three days of examination he acknowledged the seriousness of the situation. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I was very naughty. I must admit I got a huge fright when this whole thing broke. I wanted to cover up as much as I can as Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Williams testified and I wanted to make an arrangement with Mr Aronstam to cover up as well." SUPER CAPTION: Hansie Cronje, Former South African Cricket Captain Cronje had retained his composure throughout the 11 hours of questioning he faced this week before a commission investigating corruption in South African cricket.

But he began crying as he was excused from the witness stand. He stumbled as he was rushed from the hearing room and an aide grabbed his shoulder to stop him from falling. Cronje was warned he could be recalled for further questioning. SOUNDBITE: (English) "What we saw today was the most emotional moment so far in the proceedings and so far Hansie Cronje looked fine, seemingly coping well with all the stress after 2 and half days of cross-examination but when he realised it was all over and done, with towards the end he broke down probably with relief that it was all over." SUPER CAPTION: David Van Der Sandt, Sports Journalist Last week, Cronje told the commission Johannesburg bookmaker Marlon Aronstam had suggested he make the early declaration to revive the game and in return Aronstam would give him a gift and make a donation to a charity. Aronstam made three payments to Cronje totaling 53,000 rand (dlrs 7,500) and gave him a leather jacket. The donation to the charity never materialized. When Aronstam was due to take the stand he too broke down in tears.

SOUNDBITE: (English) "Sport bidding in the UK has been going for a long time and is very big but it's a type of betting when you're actually gambling. Cricket in the subcontinent is not a gamble in exactly the same way a person want to buy or sell a rand or a dollar, that's how they're trading the game of cricket." SUPER CAPTION: Marlon Aronstam, Bookmaker Aronstam then testified that within an hour of meeting Cronje, the cricketer had effectively thrown a game. The scandal broke after Indian police taped conversations Cronje had during the India tour earlier this year with Sanjay and Johannesburg businessman Hamid Cassiem. The commission is to submit its interim findings to President Thabo Mbeki by the end of the month.

You can license this story through AP Archive: Find out more about AP Archive: Category Top 10 Cricketers Banned for Match Fixing TOP 10 CRICKETERS BANNED FOR MATCH FIXING Top 10 Cricketers Banned for Match Fixing Topics Ajay Jadeja Mohammad Azharuddin Over the years, controversies surrounding cricket have marred the beauty of 'the gentleman's game', with match-fixing, being the ugliest blotch in it. The conviction of Pakistani cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir on charges of spot-fixing has come as a shock to cricket-lovers and the cricketing community. Time and again, allegations of match-fixing against players surface bringing shame to the spirit of the game. Throughout the history of cricket, there have been a number of players that have been banned from the game of cricket for match-fixing and here are 10 of them. 1.

Hansie Cronje Image Credit: Ãï¿½ï¿½ BCCL Hansie Cronje, the man whom batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar considered the toughest bowler to bat against, was charged with match-fixing on April 2000, along with other South African cricketers, Herschelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje and Pieter Styrdom. Denials were made by the South African cricket board as well as the players with regard to the allegations levelled against them. 3 Days later, Cronje was sacked as captain after confessing that he hadn't been "entirely honest". a number of startling revelations were made by players and Cronje himself, about his dealings with bookmakers. Cronje was banned from playing or coaching cricket for life on 11 October. After approximately 2 years, Cronje, aged 32, died in a plane crash, which also killed his two pilots. 2. Mohammad Azharuddin Image Credit: Ãï¿½ï¿½ BCCL Azharuddin was the shining star of the Indian cricket team till the time he played for the team. He was an excellent batsman and fielder and an inspirational leader of his team.

He is the one of the most successful captains of Team India, statistically, with a record win of 103 ODI matches as captain that is still unmatched. However, allegations of match fixing were levelled on him after Hansie Cronje's confession which named Azharuddin as the main person who introduced the bookies to him. A CBI enquiry followed and Azharuddin, eventually admitted to fixing 3 ODI matches. This led him into being banned from cricket for life by BCCI in the year 2000, which was lifted six years later. 3. Manoj Prabhakar Image Credit: Ãï¿½ï¿½ BCCL Manoj Prabhakar was a significant part of the Indian cricket team in the early 1990s. He was a shrewd bowler who made batting difficult for his opponents. His career was, however, short-lived as he retired immediately after being dropped from the squad in the 1995-96 World Cup. In 2000, he tried to implicate other cricketers, including Kapil Dev, in the match-fixing controversy which backfired on him.

He was found guilty of involvement in match-fixing and was handed a 5-year ban by BCCI. He then tried, unsuccessfully, to enter politics and then took to coaching for good. 4. Herschelle Gibbs Image Credit: Ãï¿½ï¿½ BCCL The match-fixing allegation that consumed Hansie Cronje's cricketing career also blotted Herschelle Gibbs's career. In a heart-breaking moment he tearfully admitted that he had, in fact, accepted $15,000 to score "less than 20" in an ODI match from captain Cronje. He however, could not convince himself to keep his side of the bargain and scored 74 instead. He was therefore banned only for 6 months following which he came back to the South African team and resurrected himself as a player of class and worth. 5. Henry Williams Image Credit: sports (dot) in (dot) msn (dot) com Like Herschelle Gibbs, Williams too had agreed to underperform at an ODI match in Nagpur. The South African bowler, however injured his shoulder and couldn't complete his second innings, as a result of which he didn't receive any payment.

He too was banned from international cricket for 6 months. He never returned to play cricket and later became the bowling coach at Boland. 6. Marlon Samuels Image Credit: Ãï¿½ï¿½ BCCL The West Indian cricketer was accused by the Indian Police of leaking out team information to a bookie prior to their match against India in 2007. The police claimed to have a taped conversation between Samuels and a bookmaker, Mukesh Kochchar. In 2008 he was banned by ICC for 2 years after being found guilty of breaking rules made to stop players from betting despite him claiming innocence throughout. After the expiry of his ban, he once again resumed the game of cricket, playing for Jamaica and then for West Indies. 7. Ajay Jadeja Image Credit: Ãï¿½ï¿½ BCCL Ajay Jadeja was the darling of the Indian team thanks to his brilliant fielding and equally good batting. The findings of a CBI inquiry found him guilty with match-fixing following which he was banned by the BCCI for 5 years.

Jadeja challenged the ban in the Delhi High Court, which was dismissed after no one represented his case when the petition was taken for hearing. Later, however, he was permitted to play domestic matches following which he became the captain of Delhi and Rajasthan. In the meanwhile, he joined Bollywood , though he never found success in it. 8. Maurice Odumbe Image Credit: cricket (dot) krikk (dot) com Maurice Odumbe was one of Kenya's leading players. Following allegations of match-fixing yet again in the year 2004, ICC found Odumbe guilty of receiving money from bookmakers and was subsequently banned from cricket for 5 years. After his suspension, Odumbe became heavily involved in social work especially helping AIDS orphans. After the completion of his ban he returned to playing cricket, but at a domestic level. 9. Ajay Sharma Image Credit: Ãï¿½ï¿½ BCCL Ajay Sharma was considered to be the most prolific run-maker in first class cricket with an average of 67.46. He had many records behind him in domestic cricket but had an average show in the Indian Cricket team.

His career finally ended after he was awarded a life ban following his implication in a match-fixing scandal. 10. Saleem Malik Image Credit: newshopper (dot) sulekha (dot) com Saleem Malik was a prominent part of the Pakistani cricket team till a notable period of time. He played many memorable innings for the country and even captained the team at one stage. He was accused of offering bribes and was handed a life ban in 2000 becoming the first cricketer ever to be banned. He claimed innocence from the very beginning, which was later found to be true. His ban was overturned in 2008, but he never returned to playing cricket again. You may also like: Cronje gets a job | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo Cronje gets a job Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Former South African captain Hansie Cronje has been appointed a financial manager at earth-moving machinery company Bell Equipment, the South African Press Association has reported. Cronje, who was banned from cricket for life for his part in the match-fixing scandal, took up his position on February 1.

Sapa quotes Bell financial executive Derek Crandon as saying that the decision to offer Cronje the position was based on his "outstanding academic record". Cronje has a B Comm degree and has been studying for a Masters in Business Administration since being sacked as South African captain in 2000. Bell Equipment is based in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg. © ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

4th ODI: Bdesh Wmn v SA Women at Cox's Bazar SA Women won by 94 runs Cross Pool: Easterns v Northerns at Benoni Jan 19-21, 2017 (09:30 local | 07:30 GMT | 02:30 EST | 01:30 CST | 23:30 PST -1d) Pool B: Free State v Gauteng at Bloemfontein Jan 19-21, 2017 (09:30 local | 07:30 GMT | 02:30 EST | 01:30 CST | 23:30 PST -1d) Pool A: KZ-Natal v W Province at Durban Jan 19-21, 2017 (09:30 local | 07:30 GMT | 02:30 EST | 01:30 CST | 23:30 PST -1d) Pool B: Namibia v E.

Province at Windhoek Jan 19-21, 2017 (09:30 local | 07:30 GMT | 02:30 EST | 01:30 CST | 23:30 PST -1d) BBC SPORT | CRICKET | Cronje banned for life Wednesday, 11 October, 2000, 16:10 GMT 17:10 UK Cronje banned for life Hansie Cronje: Banned from cricket for life Former South African captain Hansie Cronje has been banned from cricket for life by the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) after he admitted receiving money from bookmakers. "The UCBSA council hereby intends to ban Hansie Cronje for life from all activities of the UCBSA and its affiliates," a statement said. The decision to ban the disgraced player came after he told the King commission, which is investigating allegations of corruption within the game, that he had taken approximately �100,000 in bribes on five separate occasions between 1996 and 2000.

He also admitted making cash offers to fellow team-mates Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams to perform badly. I am saying to him, without excusing in any way what he has done if the allegations are proven to be right, that he can be a role model and turn this tragedy into triumph Nelson Mandela The ban is likely to extend to all of the USBSA's cricketing activities and those of its associated bodies. Suspension Both Gibbs and Williams were banned for six months for their involvement in the Cronje scandal, but the suspension did not apply for domestic cricket. The whole saga began last April when Delhi police revealed they had a recording of a conversation between Cronje and a representative of an Indian betting syndicate during the one-day series between India and South Africa in March. Although he fiercely denied any claims of match fixing, Cronje informed UCBSA's managing director Ali Bacher that he had not been "entirely honest" and admitted to taking money for "forecasting" results. Cronje later attributed his behaviour to the Devil after having "taken his eyes off Jesus" when Satan approached him. During the King commission hearings, he was offered immunity from prosecution if he makes a full disclosure of his role in match-fixing.

Cross-examination After three days of cross-examination, during which time he confessed to receiving $140,000, Cronje broke down in tears. The scandal has rocked the whole nation and provoked former South African president Nelson Mandela, who met Cronje last week, into urging him to become a role model to young South Africans - despite his disgraced actions. Mandela said: "I am saying to him, without excusing in any way what he has done if the allegations are proven to be right, that he can be a role model and turn this tragedy into triumph." The King commission will resume hearings into the matter in November and is likely to make recommendations to the South African government by early December, according to sports minister Ngconde Balfour. Cronje has seven days to respond to the ban.

Search BBC Sport Online Thami Tsolekile named in South African cricket match-fixing investigation | Sport | The Guardian Thami Tsolekile named in South African cricket match-fixing investigation • Former Test wicketkeeper alleged to have been paid in Ram Slam T20 scandal • Highveld Lions captain has played three Tests for South Africa Thami Tsolekile at the Kia Oval in 2012 when he was part of South Africa’s squad for the Test series against England. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images Ali Martin and Luke Alfred in Johannesburg and Tristan Holme in Cape Town Tuesday 19 January 2016 07.47 EST Last modified on Monday 4 April 2016 07.20 EDT Close This article is 1 year old The former Test wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile has been revealed as one of the players under investigation in the Twenty20 corruption scandal that has rocked South African cricket .

The Guardian has learned Tsolekile, who played the last of his three Tests for South Africa 12 years ago but has been in their squad as recently as March 2014, is alleged to have been paid at least R75,000 (£3,100) to improperly influence an aspect of last year’s Ram Slam competition. Tsolekile captained the Highveld Lions in the tournament and, according to Cricket South Africa’s anti-corruption code, could face a minimum five-year ban if found guilty of wrongdoing. South Africa pick uncapped Stephen Cook for fourth Test against England Read more Players can also be criminally charged under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, which contains a clause for sporting events. The law was passed in 2004, four years after the former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje received a life ban from cricket for match-fixing. At least one more former South Africa player is believed to be under investigation, while a number of domestic cricketers are facing possible charges of failing to report approaches.

Last week the former South Africa one-day all-rounder Gulam Bodi was named as the “intermediary” charged by Cricket South Africa in December for allegedly attempting to recruit players for the Ram Slam T20 scam. Bodi, who is cooperating with the investigation, played two one-day internationals and a Twenty20 for South Africa in 2007. His last professional game was in January last year, when he played alongside Tsolekile for the Lions. Tsolekile has not played for the Lions since the Ram Slam tournament last month, missing four matches in the domestic first-class competition including last week’s fixture with the Knights in Kimberley. The 35-year-old, whose Lions team finished second from bottom of the six-team Ram Slam competition, has captained South Africa A and the country’s under-19 team. When contacted by the Guardian, Tsolekile said: “No I don’t know anything about that. And I don’t want to comment anything about that.” A spokesperson for Cricket South Africa declined to comment while the investigation is continuing.

It has been established Bodi began to make overtures to players during the Africa T20 Cup, a season curtain-raiser played between 4 September and 4 October designed to give exposure to South Africa’s semi-professional players. During that time Bodi approached a player from the Titans franchise who rejected his offer but who is now under investigation for failing to report his advances. Similar to the manner in which Cronje operated in the late 1990s, Bodi is understood to have pretended his offer was a joke once it had been rejected by the player. South Africa’s cricketers receive regular education on anti-corruption and were given a stark reminder of the pitfalls of fixing in early November, during the early stages of the Ram Slam tournament. As part of a joint initiative between the South African Cricketers’ Association and the Professional Cricketers’ Association in England, players from the six franchises were given a presentation and had a Q&A session with the convicted spot-fixer Mervyn Westfield .

The former Essex fast bowler served eight weeks of a four-month jail sentence and was banned from professional cricket for five years for accepting an offer of £6,000 to deliberately bowl badly in a Pro40 game against Durham in September 2009. Westfield was also banned from participating in club cricket for three years, although that was reduced after he agreed to assist in a PCA-run anti-corruption programme. At the same meetings that Westfield told the South African players his story, it is understood the CSA anti-corruption chief, Louis Cole, informed the players that suspicious characters had already been spotted at televised matches. Twenty-two of the 32 games in the Ram Slam T20 were broadcast overseas, including in India. On 6 November, four games into the tournament, a CSA press release said the organisation had warned players “after gathering intelligence that an international syndicate is attempting to corrupt domestic cricket in South Africa.” While the governing body was aware of the threat early on in the competition and may have prevented a large number of matches from being corrupted, the fact that 47 players and staff are understood to have been spoken to in the evidence-gathering process since leaves no doubt as to the scale of the problem.

Question: Who was the South African cricket captain who was banned for life in 2000 for his part in a match-fixing scandal?
Answer: Hansie Cronje